Several years ago, I watched an amazing Australian cattle dog perform on "Pet Star," a trick-competition TV show. His name was Skidboot, and he went on to fame and fortune. (Well, probably not fortune ...

For most of us, sit, stay, heel and lay down are pretty much the only essential dog tricks. If you really want a little flair, you might even teach your dog to play dead, beg, roll over or shake. But ...